Machi Tosho Terrasow, Municipal library in Obuse, Japan
Machi Tosho Terrasow is a municipal library in Obuse, a small town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The building has an L-shaped steel structure with large windows, and inside there are separate areas for audiovisual collections, reading spots, and a courtyard with cherry trees.
The building opened in 2009, and its design took cues from the mountain landscape of Nagano Prefecture. In 2011, the project received a major architecture award for its approach to library spaces.
The name "Terrasow" combines the idea of a terrace with the Japanese sound for lawn, hinting at the green outdoor spaces around the building. Visitors can watch children from the nearby elementary school come in after class and share the shelves with older readers.
The library sits right next to an elementary school playground, which makes it easy to spot from the street. The outdoor courtyard looks and feels very different depending on the season, especially when the cherry trees are in bloom in spring.
Although Obuse is a very small town, the library holds a dedicated audiovisual collection, which is rare for a rural library in Japan. The central shelf units inside are arranged so that the same floor space can work as a children's area during the day and a study zone in the evening.
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